A Tour de France without it tourmalet It’s like fondue without cheese. This mountain has earned the right to bear its legendary name for French race and cycling enthusiasts. These are the reasons that support this argument.

More than a century on wheels

That’s because the Tour was first climbed in 1910, making it the first over 2,000m mountain to be climbed in the competition. Octave Lapize, who was the first to crown himself at the summit, told the organizers: “You are the murderer.”

A Pyrenean monument

It is also the most important of the four ‘monuments’ in the world, as it is part of the so-called ‘circle of death’ of the cycling mountains of the Pyrenees. mountain range Next to Aubisque, Aspin and Peyresourde.

Bahamontes Conservation Area

Because Federico Martín was the great mountain of Bahamontes. ‘‘Eagle of Toledo’ He made his way into Spanish cycling history when he became the first cyclist born in Spain to win the Tour de France in 1959.

That’s where it all started for Indurain

Because in 1991 Miguel Indurain began his conquest of the first Tour de France in Tourmalet, saving his 1993 victory on the same mountain and landing before the helpless attack of the Swiss. Tony Rominger.

Amateur cyclist’s paradise

Because any cyclist should convert it his personal Mecca and ride a bike at least once in your life. Some of the most important cyclists in history have triumphed there and crowning the Turmalet is like getting a ‘pro’ amateur cyclist diploma.

2023 exception

For the first time in history, the Tourmalet will be crossed in 2023 with three races, two at the end of the stage. it’s going to happen 6 July The transit port on the sixth stage of the tour. On July 29, women will take their chances at the Tour Femmes, which will be the first women’s ascent to be organized by the people in charge of the Tour. On September 8, the 13th stage of the Vuelta will be completed on this mountain for the first time. I was already going to do it in 2020, but the stage was canceled due to the French refusal to pass the test due to the covid epidemic restrictions.